Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A network bridge/router for identifying a data unit to be routed by a network bridge/router, for identifying a protocol associated with the received data unit to be routed, and for carrying out appropriate data unit transfer operations, all in hardware. A Receive Header Processor (RHP) analyzes the destination address of the received data unit, in hardware, for determining if routing or bridging is required. If routing is required, the RHP uses portions of the received data unit header as a compare value against predefined values stored in data structures which provide a protocol ID identifying the protocol of the received data unit and serving as an index to the appropriate microcode handling routine, executed by the RHP, for the data unit. The handling routine causes the RHP to forward data unit identifying information appropriate to the identified protocol and obtained from the received data unit to further hardware-based data unit processing elements. These further data unit processing elements are adaptable to the received data unit cast state (e.g. unicast, multicast, broadcast), bridging and/or routing requirements, and received data unit protocol.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim